The political tension in Israel escalated dramatically following the arrest of the former top lawyer in the Israeli military. Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who recently resigned as the Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is at the center of a scandal involving a leaked video that allegedly depicts severe abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and has intensified discussions regarding military conduct and human rights in the region.
The controversy began when a video, aired in August 2024 on an Israeli news channel, showcased reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel engaging in brutal treatment of a detainee. In the footage, soldiers can be seen isolating a detainee and surrounding him with riot shields, effectively blocking visibility while he was reportedly beaten and assaulted with a sharp object. Following this horrifying incident, the detainee received treatment for severe injuries.
As a result of the video, five reservists have been charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm to the detainee. These individuals have denied the charges, and their identities have not been disclosed. During a recent news conference, four of the reservists appeared wearing black balaclavas to conceal their faces, alongside their lawyers, who demanded the dismissal of the trial. Adi Keidar, a lawyer representing the reservists, argued that his clients were subjected to a “faulty, biased, and completely cooked-up legal process.”
In the wake of the video leak, a criminal investigation was initiated concerning the circumstances surrounding the release of the footage. Major General Tomer-Yerushalmi was placed on leave pending the investigation. On Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that she would not be reinstated, leading to her resignation shortly thereafter. In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi took full responsibility for the leaked material, stating her intention was to counter false propaganda against the IDF's law enforcement authorities. This claim was directed at accusations from some right-wing political figures who alleged that the abuse claims were fabricated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiments of the Defense Minister, characterizing the incident at Sde Teiman as “perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment.” The political ramifications of this situation have sparked fears that the scandal may escalate further.
Following her resignation, reports emerged that Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi was missing, prompting an extensive search operation along the beach north of Tel Aviv. Fortunately, she was located safe and unharmed in Herzliya. However, she was subsequently taken into custody by police. As part of the ongoing investigation, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive information and other serious offenses, with reports indicating that one of them is Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi.
The Sde Teiman incident has polarized Israeli society, highlighting the deepening divide between political factions. Right-wing supporters view the leak of the video as an act of treason and a defamation of the Israeli military. In response to military police inquiries into the incident, far-right protesters, including at least three lawmakers from Netanyahu’s coalition, expressed their support for the reservists involved.
Conversely, those on the left applaud Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi’s decision to release the video, viewing it as a necessary step toward accountability for abuses against Palestinian detainees. The left considers the footage as corroborative evidence of the widespread and systematic abuse reported since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
Last October, a UN commission of inquiry issued a report alleging that thousands of detainees from Gaza had suffered extensive abuse, which included physical and psychological violence, as well as sexual and gender-based violence. The report categorized these actions as potential war crimes and violations of human rights. In response, the Israeli government has vehemently rejected these allegations, asserting its commitment to adhering to international legal standards and ensuring that all complaints are thoroughly investigated.
The situation continues to unfold, with the implications of the Sde Teiman incident reverberating throughout Israeli society and beyond, sparking urgent debates about military ethics, human rights, and the treatment of detainees.
